Hanoi moves to address flood impact in suburbs

Floodwater rises to the roofs of many houses in Can Thuong hamlet of Quoc Oai district, Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi is working to
address the aftermath of floods after heavy rain in many outlying districts
last week.

Floodwater has inundated about 10,000ha of rice,
thousands of ha of other crops, more than 540ha of aquatic farming and 36
farms. It has also left many places in Thanh Tri, Dan Phuong and Quoc Oai districts
40 – 80cm under water, according to the capital city’s steering board for
natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue.

In Ba Vi district, about 1,280ha of rice, 130ha
of other crops and 100ha of aquatic farming have been flooded, mostly in
lowland and riverside communes.

The Tuyet Nghia kindergarten of Quoc Oai district is flooded, forcing many children to be off school (Photo: VNA)

Quoc Oai district has also been affected, with 386
houses flooded and almost 2,400ha of rice, 142ha of other crops, 142ha of fruit
trees and 160ha of aquatic farming damaged.

Meanwhile, 1,286 houses and some 11km of roads
in Chuong My district are underwater. Flooding also devastated nearly 1,870ha
of rice, 213ha of other crops, 47ha of fruit trees and 263ha of aquaculture
farms there.

People in many areas in Quoc Oai have to move by boat (Photo: VNA)

The steering board for disaster prevention,
search and rescue of Chuong My said some local houses collapsed while several
concrete canals and dyke sections were eroded.

Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s
Committee Nguyen Van Suu ordered district authorities to survey the flooding
situation to help locals recover and clean up the environment. They also need
to examine and reinforce irrigation works and natural disaster prevention
facilities.

While the municipal Department of Health has to
work with the localities to clean the environment, the Department of
Construction was asked to help repair damaged houses.

The Hanoi Power Corporation was directed to
resume electricity supply for the settlement of flood consequences. Meanwhile,
the Hanoi Sewerage and Drainage Co. Ltd needs to boost drainage capacity in
flooded areas, the official added.-VNA